Buhari Departs Abuja Today For Malta

President Muhammadu Buhari will today, Thursday, leave Abuja for the Republic of Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

This year’s Commonwealth which begins in the island nation on Friday (tomorrow), is made up of Britain, Nigeria and 51 other countries that work together to pursue common goals and promote development, democracy, peace, security and good governance.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that the President and other Heads of State and Government who will be in Malta for this year’s summit are expected to deliberate on fresh Commonwealth initiatives on development and climate change with a view to adding greater value to ongoing global efforts in these areas.

According to Adesina, a new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to take over from the incumbent, Kamalesh Sharma, would be announced at the summit.

He added that the summit will also feature the presentation of a progress report on the eradication of polio.

He said the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, would formally declare the summit open and host a banquet in honour of participating Heads of State and Government.

After the summit, Buhari would on Sunday, leave Malta for Paris where he would present Nigeria’s statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to open in the French capital city on Monday, November 30.

Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed; and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.)